UK Health Radio Medical New Update - Ebola virus

UK Health Radio Medical New Update

The BBC has been reporting on the fact that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the world's deadliest to date. More than 670 people have already lost their lives as health workers in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone struggle to control the virus.

The World Health Organisation has reported on the virus saying that Ebola is a viral illness of which the initial symptoms can include a sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat.  But that is just the beginning the sufferer will soon go on to suffer vomiting, diarrhoea and - in some cases - both internal and external bleeding.

The disease infects humans through close contact with infected animals some of which are chimpanzees, fruit bats and forest antelope.   Once contracted the virus spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or through contaminated environments. Even the funerals of Ebola victims can pose a threat, if mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

The incubation period for Ebola can last from two days to three weeks, and diagnosis is difficult. The human disease has been mostly limited to Africa, so far, although one strain of the virus has been identified in the Philippines.

Healthcare workers are also at risk if they treat patients without taking the right precautions to avoid infection.

People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus - in some case that can mean as long as seven weeks after they recover.

There is some useful advice from the WHO a link for which I will put on the blog.  Although this is not a disease that we have to fear directly at the moment, there is no doubt that the freedom of movement around the globe could potentially lead to the virus appearing almost anywhere.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical New Update

Kindly sponsored by 1-stop-health-shop.com

World Health Organization guidance on Ebola